New York Jets Eyeing the First Round Quarterbacks?

Feb 23, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback

stretches prior to work out during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

So, could another surprise be coming to Gotham City via the NFL draft? Anything is possible.

Remember last spring, when John Idzik took the draft by storm by choosing some quarterback named Geno? It was so out of the blue, the crowd went nuts, did it not?

Might the Jets be considering a similar splash in 2014? Teddy Bridgewater maybe? What about, *gasp*, Johnny Football? Take a look at a Tweet from NFL Insider Ian Rappaport:

Interesting to hear #Jets keeping in regular contact with QBs slated to go in the first round. Maybe in case one falls. Maybe serious at 18

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 6, 2014

The thing that keeps the John Idzik administration interesting is this, as hard as it is to get a read on what is going on, that is EXACTLY what makes the scenario believable. Think about it, what do we say about this group? That nobody knows what is going on in Idzik’s head. How can we really know if he is going to take a shot at a quarterback? We never know what he is going to do? How can a source be sure they are going to take a quarterback?

In that same line of thinking, however, if we don’t know what Idzik is going to do, why CAN’T he be taking a quarterback? We have heard all along that the administration of the team is in a bit of a split regarding Geno Smith. Maybe they do want to choose a quarterback after all?

What do you guys think of the concept?

Personally, and I have said this before, I hope this due diligence. Taking a quarterback early in this draft will push the team backwards, rather than moving it forward. The last portion of the season earned Geno Smith the right to come into the season as the starting quarterback. His development came along well enough.

Now, this doesn’t mean he should be guaranteed the position. There should ABSOLUTELY be competition. No doubt. But it shouldn’t be overloaded either. Geno headed in as the starting quarterback, set to compete against the veteran backup quarterback is more than a fair fight. This will not result in a “coddled” Geno Smith.

If you want a quarterback in the wings, it would be smarter to me to bring in a project such as a Tajh Boyd or a Logan Thomas. That way, you have the added pressure from a new quarterback, but not one that is expected to step in and play right away, the way a first round quarterback is expected to.

But, as we have seen, and we know with John Idzik, that anything is possible.